By Foghorn News staff
The winter season is the home for celebrating Christmas and ringing in a new year, but it’s also a time where great movies hit the big screen. Whether you are in the mood for action, drama, sci-fi or suspense, these seven films will sure to bring you into the theater and stay out of the cold.
‘THE DISASTER ARTIST’ (Dec. 8)
James Franco directs and stars as Tommy Wiseau in this biographical film about the making of one of the best worst film ever made, “The Room.”
The film chronicles how Wiseau and Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) met in an acting class in San Francisco. Hoping to make it into Hollywood, Sestero moves to Los Angeles to star in Wiseau’s film “The Room.” After being told that he wouldn’t make it in acting, Wiseau finances the film with his own money and writes, directs and stars in this film, which has become the cult classic we know and love in a “so bad, it’s good” sort of way.
If you ever wondered how this film came to be from the iconic “I did not hit her” rooftop scene to the infamous line, “You are tearing me apart Lisa!” it’s a must-see. This movie is one film that is gaining some Oscar buzz already for Franco and it’s one that you want to check out — and don’t forget the “spoons.”
— Jonathan Garcia
‘STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI’ (Dec. 15)
The saga from a galaxy “far, far away” returns as the battle between the First Order and the Resistance rages on.
Following the events of “The Force Awakens,” Rey (Daisy Ridley) trains with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to help with her newly discovered Jedi abilities. But after discovering how powerful she is with the force, Luke begins to feel uneasy and fears that she might be walking a dark path that he’s “seen before.” Meanwhile, the Resistance, led by General Leia (Carrie Fisher), prepares for battle against the First Order.
Rian Johnson takes on directing duties of the film and promises this entry will be much darker than the last one. Many fans have already purchased their tickets for the film back on Oct. 9 and crashed many online ticket service sites due to the high demand. Also, this entry marks the final role for Fisher after her passing in 2016, making it an emotional one for fans of this beloved franchise and one that they won’t want to miss.
— Jonathan Garcia
‘JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE’ (Dec. 20)
The game that literally makes you a part of the game returns 20 years later and has changed drastically, updating to modern times.
When four teenagers discover an old video game when cleaning the basement for detention, they are quickly transported into the video game. A scrawny nerdy gamer (Alex Wolff) becomes a muscular archaeologist (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), a football jock (Ser’Darius Blain) turns into a zoologist (Kevin Hart), a bookworm (Morgan Turner) becomes a skilled commando (Karen Gillan) and a superficial cheerleader (Madison Iseman) turns into an overweight cartographer (Jack Black). As their avatars they chose in the game, they must play along with the game’s plot and finish it to return to the real world.
It’s been 22 years since the first “Jumanji” starring Robin Williams. Director Jake Kasdan aims to make this sequel a tribute to Williams and a fun ride for the family to enjoy. Also along for the ride is Nick Jonas, who trades in his singing voice for an action hero role making this an interesting choice that just might work in his favor.
— Jonathan Garcia
‘ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD’ (Dec. 22)
This film chronicles true events surrounding the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III by a crime regime in the 1970s.
Michelle Williams plays devoted mother Gail Harris, who tries to lobby for her son’s safe return. The film is a dramatic race against the clock. Christopher Plummer plays his stubborn, wealthy grandfather oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, who refuses to pay the money. Gail is forced to seek help in an unlikely ally in former CIA operative Fletcher Chase, played by Mark Wahlberg. The film is directed by Ridley Scott and is based on the book “Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty.”
— Azrael Montoya
‘THE POST’ (Jan. 12)
A film based on journalists publishing the truth almost always piques my interest.
“The Post” depicts true events about a cover-up that spanned four U.S. presidents. It pushed the country’s first female newspaper publisher, Kay Graham (Meryl Streep) of The Washington Post, and a hard-driving editor, Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), to join a battle between journalists and the government in publishing the Pentagon Papers surrounding the involvement of the U.S. government during the Vietnam War.
The film is directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer. Besides Streep and Hanks taking the lead in this film, the cast includes Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Tracy Letts, Bradley Whitford, Bruce Greenwood and Matthew Rhys.
The film is already getting criticized by various New York Time figures who were associated with the case by not emphasizing the Time’s role in breaking the story.
As someone who likes watching a movie that depicts true events, which later inspires me to research more about it, I will be at the movies on Jan. 12.
— Brittany Claramunt
‘THE COMMUTER’ (Jan. 12)
Liam Neeson plays Insurance salesman Michael McCauley, who’s on his daily commute home. Things are anything but routine and go horribly wrong.
He is forced to uncover the identity of an unknown passenger on the train before it’s too late. He has to work against the clock to save the lives of the passengers on the train and gets caught in a lethal plan that is a part of a criminal conspiracy.
In this mysterious puzzle there are life and death stakes. The movies looks like a good dramatic thrill ride from start to finish.
— Azrael Montoya
‘DEN OF THIEVES’ (Jan. 19)
“Den of Thieves” is a gritty Los Angeles crime chronicle that follows the most successful band of outlaws in Los Angeles.
Their intricate plan is to rob the Federal Reserve Bank in Los Angeles. The film connects the lives of the powerful gang and the elite unit of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. Gerard Butler plays Nick Flanagan, the main policeman on the case. Fifty Cent plays Levi, one of the main members of the bank robbery crew. The film questions the line between cop and criminal. Morality and survival are tested in this crime thriller.
— Azrael Montoya
